Rockies’ Chatwood tests stuff against Braves; Helton sits out again

Tyler Chatwood has always had good stuff. But it’s been his inability to harness that stuff with any consistency that has the right-hander plying his trade for Triple-A Colorado Springs.

But Wednesday afternoon he gets a chance to showcase his stuff against the powerful Braves. Chatwood was called up to fill in the starting spot left open by the lower back injury suffered by Jhoulys Chacin.

Chatwood’s done some encouraging work for the Sky Sox in the early going, posting a 1-0 record with a 1.84 ERA. He’s struck out 17 and walked only four.

But dominating at Triple-A is a lot different than competing at the big-league level. Last season, Chatwood appeared in 19 games (12 starts) and finished 5-6 with a 5.43 ERA. He struck out 41, but walked 33, and that often got him in trouble.

“He has a power arm and it’s all about throwing strikes for Tyler,” manager Walt Weiss said Wednesday morning. “When he throws strikes, he’s really good. He’s got a good fastball and hard breaking stuff and a good changeup. So the stuff is all in place. He’s been throwing strikes in Colorado Springs, and if he throws strikes today, he’ll give us a chance to win.”

Colorado needs a win to avoid getting swept by the Braves at Coors Field for the second year in a row.

Helton to DL? The Rockies are going to have to make a decision today regarding veteran first baseman Todd Helton. Though his strained left forearm is slowly healing, Helton is not in the lineup again and he’s moving closer to landing on the disabled list. Helton last played on Friday night, meaning he’ll miss five games in a row if he doesn’t enter Wednesday’s game.

Helton was not in much of a mood to talk.

“It’s getting a little better, OK?” he said. “I have to go see the trainer now.”

Said Weiss: “I haven’t talked to Doogie (trainer Keith Dugger) yet today, but we will get to the point that we have to make some decisions. (Helton) has been getting better everyday. Hopefully he might be available when we get to Phoenix.”

The Rockies open a four-game series against the Diamondbacks beginning Thursday.

Pregame notes of note:

* Troy Tulowitzki is not in the starting lineup. Weiss decided to give him the day off after he played both games of Tuesday’s frigid doubleheader.

* The Rockies have committed just nine errors, tied with the Padres for fewest in the National League. Their .988 fielding percentage is tied with the Reds and Padres for second best in the NL. The Diamondbacks lead the league with a .994 fielding percentage.

* The Rockies are tied with Oakland for the most stolen bases in the majors with 19.

* Braves starter Tim Hudson is going after his 200th career victory. Hudson is 5-2 with a 4.34 ERA in 10 career starts vs. the Rockies.

The Rockies are missing an opportunity with this Helton situation, IMO. They’re still undecided whether to put him on the DL, and if they do it will be retroactive to Saturday. They could put him on the DL now, and call up Arenado to let him get some big league ABs, and put some pressure on Nelson and Brignac.

Patrick, a third-generation Colorado native, is back for his second stint covering the Rockies. He first covered the team from 2005-2009, helping chronicle “Rocktober” in 2007 and also following the team’s playoff run in 2009.

Nick Groke has worked at The Denver Post since 1997, as a sports reporter, city reporter, entertainment writer and digital editor and producer, among other newsroom posts. He also writes regularly about boxing, soccer, MMA and NASCAR.